{{short description|Canadian retired professional wrestler (born 1942)}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |image= |name=Jean-Neil Guay |names=Neil Guay<br />The Hangman<br />Le Bourreau<br />Super Destroyer III<br />J.P. Durelle<br />The Towering Inferno<br />Big John the Quebec Lumberjack<br />Jean Louie<br />Jean Pierre LaSalle<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=5422&name=Jean+Louie|title=Hangman « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=}}</ref> |height={{height|ft=6|in=3}} |weight={{convert|290|lb|kg st|abbr=on}} |real_height= |real_weight= |birth_date={{birth date and age|1942|7|21}} |birth_place=Matane, Quebec, Canada |death_date= |death_place= |family = |billed = |spouse=<small>(Married)</small><br />{{marriage|France Gagnon|1967}} |children=Steve Guay |trainer= Pat Gerard |debut= 1964<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainsworthsports.com/pro_wrestling_athlete_rankings_by_rookie_year_1964.htm|title=the top ranked pro wrestlers by rookie year 1964}}</ref> |retired= 1987 }} '''Jean-Neil Guay''' (born July 21, 1942) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name '''The Hangman''' ('''Le Bourreau''') who spent his career in Calgary, Japan, New York, Montreal, Minnesota and Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=7243|title=Profile|publisher=Wrestlingdata|accessdate=2023-12-11}}</ref>
==Career== Guay worked as a policeman who was skilled in judo. He gave wrestling a shot and worked in Montreal and the Maritimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/history/1960s.html |title=Québec Wrestling History: 1960s }}</ref>
In 1975, he made his debut in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He also worked in Los Angeles where he became '''The Hangman''' and in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Pat Laprade|author2=Bertrand Hébert|title=Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ey8bluWM_m4C&q=neil+guay&pg=PT34|date=2013|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77090-296-1|pages=34, 42}}</ref>
In 1978, he made his debut in Memphis as Jean Louie winning the tag team titles with Jos Leduc. In 1979, he made his debut for the American Wrestling Association in Minnesota and became the '''Super Destroyer Mark III''' teaming with Super Destroyer Mark II and managed by Lord Alfred Hayes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/awa/awa24.htm |title=American Wrestling Association }}</ref>
In 1980, he made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation being managed by Freddie Blassie.<ref name=Encyclopedia2>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia: Updated & Expanded|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=118|publisher=DK|year=2012|isbn=978-0-7566-9159-2}}</ref> He defeated Rene Goulet at Showdown at Shea event.<ref>{{cite book|title=The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWF 1963–1989|last=Cawthon|first=Graham|pages=309|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4928-2597-5}}</ref> Hangman feuded with WWF Champion Bob Backlund, Andre the Giant, Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/1980.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1980 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= 19 December 2023|website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> He left the WWF in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/1981.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1981 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= 19 December 2023|website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
After WWF, he worked in Montreal for Lutte Internationale where he was a major star until the promotions shut its doors down in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/history/1980s.html |title=Québec Wrestling History: 1980s }}</ref> He retired from wrestling afterward.
==Personal life== In 1991, he was in a car accident that left him with a broken neck.<ref>{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/1999/06/30/neil-guay-succeeded-outside-quebec-from-japan-to-wwwf/|title=Neil Guay succeeded outside Quebec, from Japan to WWWF |access-date =2024-02-11 |date =30 June 1999 |work=SLAM! Wrestling|publisher=Canoe.com}}</ref>
He appeared in the documentary Mad Dog and the Butcher released in 2019.
==Championships and accomplishments== *'''NWA Hollywood Wrestling''' **NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (2 times) **NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Roddy Piper (1) *'''Continental Wrestling Association''' **AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jos Leduc (2)<ref name=awast>{{cite book | first1=Royal |last1=Duncan |first2=Gary |last2=Will | title=Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present |location=Waterloo, Ontario |orig-year=2000.|chapter= (Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977] | pages= 185–189| publisher=Archeus Communications |year=2006 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=SouthernTagWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-t.html | title=Southern Tag Team Title | work=Wrestling-Titles | access-date=January 19, 2020 | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319013647/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-t.html | url-status=live }}</ref> *'''NWA All-Star Wrestling''' **NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{citation needed|date=May 2024}} *'''International Wrestling Association''' **Canadian International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Swede Hanson<ref name=montreal>{{cite web|title=International Wrestling International Tag Team Title (Montreal)|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/pv/can-int-t.html|access-date=2009-01-16}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} '''General''' *{{cite book|author=Oliver, Greg|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians|publisher=ECW Press|year=2003|chapter=Roll Call: Hangman Neil Guay|pages=176|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dPJRPgAACAAJ|isbn=1-55022-531-6}} *{{cite book |last=Nevada |first=Vance |author-link=Vance Nevada |date=2022 |title=(Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy |location= |publisher=FriesenPress |isbn=9781039154797 }}
==External links== *{{professional wrestling profiles}} *[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9075227/] *[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ey8bluWM_m4C&dq=mad+dogs+midgets+and+screw+jobs+hangman&pg=PA1954]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guay, Neil}} Category:1942 births Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century Canadian professional wrestlers Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers Category:Professional wrestlers from Quebec Category:Living people Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni ja:ネイル・グアイ